Current Situation
-The genocide in Darfur (a region of Western Sudan) is now in its 6th year. Over 400,000 people have been murdered, over 2.5 million have been forced from their homes, countless villages have been burned, and rape has been systematically used as a weapon of war.
-In 2003, after years of political oppression, Darfurian rebels mounted an uprising. The government responded by enabling the Janjaweed militias to systematically destroy the Darfuri population.
-The World Food Program has had to cut its rations in half, leaving countless people malnourished and on the brink of starvation.
What Needs to Happen for Darfur
-Sudan needs to allow in the full amount of peacekeepers from the UN approved peacekeeping force called UNAMID, which Sudan has thus far blocked from reaching full deployment.
-Sudan needs to ensure safe access of humanitarian aid groups to those in need.
-Restart the peace talks.
-China needs to stop supplying arms and money to the Sudanese government.
The Olympic Ideal, Peace, and Human Rights Through Sports
-The Olympic Spirit’s Mission:“Building a peaceful and better world . . . in the Olympic Spirit which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity, and fair play.”
-International athletes uniting in sport creates an ideal forum to promote human rights and peace throughout the world.
Olympic Truce
-A principle of the ancient Olympics ensuring safe passage of athletes.
-Resurrected in 1992 to suspend fighting allowing athletes from the former Republic of Yugoslavia to travel to the Games and the much needed vaccination of children there.
-Team Darfur is calling for an Olympic Truce for Darfur allowing humanitarian aid to reach those in need and facilitate peace talks during the period of time around the Olympics.
Team Darfur
-Team Darfur is an international coalition of athletes committed to raising awareness about and bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
-Athletes sign a charter, showing their commitment to bring peace to Darfur.
-Team Darfur athletes have been involved by speaking to press about Darfur, signing our Olympic Truce letter, meeting with members of Congress, and attending awareness raising events.
* Visit our homepage to learn more about Team Darfur. Click “Darfur” for in-depth information on the crisis in Darfur.
